Rudolph's Santa???

DC, while purchasing his 16th  copy of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer at his favorite “away for the weekend, day after Thanksgiving store”, turned to me and said

“Santa was not a very nice man”. 

I was a little surprised by that and asked “what do you mean?”

He pointed to his Rudolph book on the counter and said again, “Santa was not a very nice man”. 

And you know what?

DC is correct.

Santa was not a very nice man in his treatment of Rudolph and Hermey, for being different.

In the end, Santa did not really learn anything and it was only because he needed their help that he decided to accept them. 

I was kind of impressed (and sad at the same time) that he recognized this.

It's funny the things we never think about in all of these old Christmas stories.

I kind of felt bad that we've always thought of these stories as classic and  "heartwarming" Christmas tales. Here we are cheering on Santa for finally coming around to common human decency.

We've come a long way over the years, not quite far enough, but here's hoping. .

#Rudolph #SantaDidNotLearnAnything #FeelingDisapointedInSanta


Facebook Status 11/2018

This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Mom! I am getting very nervous about this!

The clocks go back one hour on Sunday.

This does not mean I will actually get that extra hour of sleep, but as every year, I will try to be optimistic and look forward to it until it does not happen.

One day I will be surprised and DC will sleep the extra hour.

As the days grow darker and shorter, I can predict exactly what will happen around here besides me not getting to sleep that extra hour -

Oops, I lost that optimism for a minute.

Okay, I am back.

Although DC is getting a little better at reading the clock and telling time, the clock and what time the clock reads does not have much of an effect on him as you might imagine.

He does not get upset if the clock is wrong (as he does when the calendar is not changed immediately)

He will not notice if I forget to change one (again; unlike the calendar).

He will still ride in my car, where the clock is almost always wrong.

This might lead you to believe that I am home free with the whole clock/time change.

Wrong.

Although the actual "clock"  time does not mean all that much to DC; he does have a pretty good internal clock.

It is going to get dark earlier.

He is going to notice.

He will be at the door as soon as he notices that it is getting dark way ahead of his schedule.

He will be convinced there is a storm coming.

Every day.

For weeks.

No amount of explanation ahead of time, keeps this from happening  Every . Single . Year.

No amount of explanation while he is opening and closing the door 20 times every night, will change this.

Mom! I am getting very nervous about this!

We just have to ride it out along with him waking up an hour early until he gets used to it.

I'm not a fan of the time change.

And......... Don't forget to Vote on Tuesday!

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. This week's prompt "As the days grow darker... "
Finish the Sentence Friday is hosted by Kristi at Finding Ninee  and Kenya at Sporadically Yours 

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Halloween - Please Be Kind #autism

DC always enjoyed the costume and candy part of Halloween, but it took years before he really understood the waking around to get said candy and years after that before he understood that he could not walk into people’s houses.

He could not understand why we were ringing the doorbell and not going in.

Halloween, now is his absolute favorite.

He has a costume for every party and another for the big day.

I don’t feel that I should have to take that all away from him because some people see him as “too old” to trick-or-treat.

Like many children and adults with autism, his interests are limited and when he really shows an interest or enjoys something out of what would normally be thought of his “comfort zone” - you better believe that we are going for it; all the way. 

Please be kind if an adult in costume comes to your door, or a child without a costume due to sensory issues.

Their parents will handle it if they try to walk into your home or don’t understand “take one piece” - Not having the ability to say “Trick-Or-Treat” is okay too......really. Don’t try to force it. 

It IS everyone’s Halloween. #Autism #Halloween

Facebook Status 10/31/18 




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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Tuesday is the new Monday

Never in a million years could I ever have imagined that DC would actually LIKE Unified Sports, Cross Country. 
Never.

I can't even tell you how many years he has been participating; I have to imagine it's been quite a few (Ms. "No Sense of Time" at your service)

I originally tried it with him because all of the other sports he participated in had either gone away, he aged out of or he just got bored.

He aged out of Challengers baseball at 21. Not that he was a huge fan of baseball but when he was young, there were really no other programs - sport programs or recreation in general, for him to participate in, so he played baseball for 16 years.

He really enjoyed Special Olympics Swimming and participated there for a good 10 years, if not longer but that program went away in our area.

He also participated in Special Olympics Golf, but he was too slow to play "Alternate Shot", where an athlete and a buddy pair up on the course so he participated in the "skills" program. 

10 years hitting balls on the driving range with no chance to compete on the course just got boring for him. I don't blame him.

There needs to be a level in-between "Skills" and "Alternate Shot" - just sayin'.

With nothing else to try, we decided to give Cross Country a shot. If nothing else, it would be good exercise.

Well.... he liked it and has been participating ever since.

This year, though.....
This year, he went from liking it to LOVING IT. So much so that he gets very upset when it gets cancelled.
Unfortunately, we've had a rainy go of it this season.



Facebook Status: September 18, 2018

It’s 6:00 am and this “boy” has been following me around, asking about practice (which is about 12 hours from now) and just staring at me  for the last 45 minutes. As I type this, DC is about 6 inches from my face - staring.

He woke up and started immediately. 

He won’t understand that I will not know if cross country will be cancelled for rain until later in the day.

I’m thrilled that he loves cross country as much as he does (who could have ever seen that coming?) but the downside is the anxiety about cancelling from the moment he wakes up every single Tuesday.

Tuesday seems to be our new Monday

#MondayMeltdownsHaveBeenRescheduled

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Facebook Status September 25, 2018

Same boat, different week (same day) - It's pouring- sigh.....
#TuesdayIsTheNewMonday #StopRainingOnTuesdays #JustStop

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Facebook Status October 2, 2018

So........
It's Tuesday
It's Raining
"Cross Country Practice Cancelled?" (repeat 694 times)
#StopRainingOnTuesdays #Autism #ThreeInARow#SameDayDifferentWeek #TuesdayIsTheNewMonday

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Facebook Status - October 8, 2018

Tomorrow is Tuesday and for the first time in 4 weeks there is no rain predicted.

Although he is getting so used to it raining and his practice getting cancelled that he will probably be in my face about it anyway .... fingers crossed, people!

#TuesdayIsOurNewMonday 
#StopRainingInTuesdays

Tuesday Morning - October 9, 2018

aaannnnnd....... It's Raining!
#StopRainingOnTuesdays


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Facebook Status

Happy Tuesday!

Random Tuesdays

Facebook Status

It's pouring.. POURING! 

DC was ready at the door wearing his raincoat (me? no. I wasn't going outside yet).

When the car arrived, he ran out and I stood in the door as always.

I saw him flagging we to the car, which he never does. Thinking something was wrong and not wanting to waste time looking for my umbrella, I ran to the car as I was. Opening the door, DC said

"Mom! It's raining! Sorry!" 

(of course he let me stand there in the pouring rain for a little while before he came out with that)
... Happy Tuesday!

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Facebook Status

Morning Jump-Start:
DC (eating breakfast): Mom, I feel so 'Vy-lated'. 
Me: WHAT???!!!???!!! What do you mean?
DC: I feel so 'vy-lated'
Me: What do you mean!?!?
DC: Faerie Tale Theater
(Hansel and Gretel to be exact) 
Geez....
Happy Tuesday - my heart is beating again, thank you.

                                      ~  Not that he had any idea what violated means, but hearing it come out of his mouth - unsettling, to say the least.

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Facebook Status

Today, is DC's Monday
Mornings in General are hard, but Mondays usually do me in. 
Today was not going badly at all but waiting for his transport, I could see the mood change sweep over his face. I know it was because he wanted to write more "Princess Papers" and I did not give him enough of a heads up to put everything away..... 
Fortunately, even with the angry eyes, there wasn't a big outburst; but he was agitated. 
I am sure that the driver at this point is able to tell his mood by the way he walks out to the car when it arrives.
When he turns around to look at me BEFORE he gets in the car, I know he's coming back to the door to me to stim about whatever is bothering him. Some mornings he comes back more than once.
Today he got to the car door, turned to look at me and stomped back to me still standing in the doorway - angry eyes and all. I opened the door and he yelled angrily "Not 'Crappy" anymore!!!" (crabby) and stomped back to the car.
Not very believable, I must say.... but..... it didn't go on forever and he went right back to the car, so I am putting a mark in the "win" column. Happy Monday (Tuesday)!

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Facebook Status

Tuesdays are really just Mondays all over again..

Image Unavailable - Insert Photo Here

There are times when I have go and to look at my photos to remember what day, month or year we did something that I am trying to remember. I have no sense of time.
This happened just a few days ago and to my utter shock, I discovered that ALL of my photos were missing from the photo folder.

There was nothing!

Nothing!

Panicked, I began searching my computer, every file..... inside every file.

Maybe the file got moved.

The file was still there but empty - so logically, it did not get moved but I was determined to search every file anyway.

Before anyone says "Don't you have a backup?" - yes, I do and that was my next step.

I went in and ran a restore. The restore duplicated the 6 photo files I had copied to my desktop in anticipation of adding to the #TravelingWithDC series and a few other files that had some screen shots and photos used on past blog posts, but the photo file did not come back.

There was nothing....

During my panicked (and very loud) search, Doug said "Yeah, I noticed that the other day".

Which led to my "That's it! No one touches my computer" rant.

After the search and the rant (which was much longer than "no one touches my computer"), I needed not to think about this for awhile. My brain was on overload and I was heartbroken.

I needed not to think about it.

This, of course is when Doug decided it was a good time to read all of the 798 reasons and "fixes" that he googled.

Dude......

The few snippets I did hear, while yelling at him to stop reading them to me were:

1. Some sort of virus that renders your photos invisible. They are still there but in a format that can't be seen?????  I was trying not to listen so I can't even tell you if this a a real thing.

2. Some sort of storage issue that knocks your files off of your computer with no warning.
(Great, I just restored and duplicated all of those files that I did not need, probably pushing more files off the computer)

The next day Doug spoke to a computer guy here in town and the latter, although I am sure there is more to the explanation than the the way I just explained it, seems to be a real thing.
Great! Did I mention that I did a "restore" and duplicated all of the files I already had?

We will be away for the weekend so the computer is going to the shop while we're gone.

I thought it would be better that way, because autism is a factor in every decision.

There was one day awhile ago when I shut the computer down in the morning for some reason - probably a storm. I notified DC's after-work staff  that I had shut down the computer. Even though my screen goes black on a regular basis when it goes into sleep mode, DC with his ability to notice when anything changes, even when the changes are not noticeable to anyone else, WILL notice that it is off as soon as he walks in the door. He does not use my computer but it will bother him that it is off. I just wanted her to know and be able to tell him that I would turn it back on when I got home, so he would not haunt her about it until I came home.

It was in fact the first thing he noticed when he came home that day.

If the computer being off bothers him, then the computer being GONE would just put him over the top.
So I decided to wait until the night before we leave so I won't have to listen to too much computer angst before we go.

On the "bright side", Doug remembered that when I bought this computer and transferred everything over from the old computer, there were a few of his files missing. He had our old computer guy go back in and put everything on a flash drive.

He still has that flash drive and it does hold all of my photos through 2015.

So there's that, but we've done a lot of things and gone a lot of places since 2015 and it is going to be heartbreaking if all of that is lost.

Another bright side (sort of) is that I do post photos on Face book. All of them? No, but a few of each event or trip.

Am I looking forward to going through 3 years of face book photos? No. But at least if all else fails, I will be able to get a few of the important events and places back.

So.....

Please! No One Break Face Book While I'm Away. Just Don't!



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This has been a Finish The Sentence Friday post. The prompt this week is "Share a Photo and the Story Behind It". Finish the Sentence is hosted by Kristi at Finding Ninee and Kenya at Sporadically Yours



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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Face book statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Funeral

DC and I just returned from a funeral (I have to call it a funeral because "wake" or "calling hours" mean nothing to DC). 

DC's great aunt passed away earlier this week.

In all honesty, I do not attend many wakes or funerals unless it is immediate family or a very close friend because 1. I am not able to go anywhere without DC unless Doug is around to stay with him and 2. DC gets very anxious, more-so now since my step-father's funeral - he was there both days and made it through but now, in his head he thinks that is the way it will be at every funeral (also, I do not really know if he completely understands "death", but he does understand that it is sad).

His Great Aunt was a wonderful woman who was always very good to DC. She always remembered him on his birthday, Christmas and many other random holidays, even though they did not see each other all that often.

She would call me from time to time to thank me for this or that but also just to tell me things. She would call when she had seen DC at a family event with his father, just to tell me what a "good looking, well-mannered young man" he was and how he behaved so well at whatever event they had attended. She would call me when she saw his art work or a card hanging on anyone's refrigerator to tell me just how lovely she thought it was or just how neat his handwriting is.

She paid attention to everything. She really loved him.

So even if by some miracle I would have been able to attend by myself, I thought that DC really needed to attend too.

I told him as soon as I knew the date so we could talk about it before hand; and we did – he brought it up numerous times every day.

Last night, I woke up to him practicing the sign of the cross and saying “I am sorry for loss” (yes, we are still sleeping on the couch).

I had to circle the block twice before we went in because he just could not calm down. Once we were in, I only had to take him outside once.

Once he saw his Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and Grandmother – he calmed down but he was a little loud until we got to the receiving line.

“Please don’t cry”.

We talked about it enough before hand that the crying did not upset him but he just wanted everyone to feel better, so “Please don’t cry” is his way of showing that.

As I said earlier, she was a wonderful woman who was always very good to DC. I am glad we were able to attend to say good-bye. I think DC kind of understood that it was important for him to be there as well.

From Facebook Statuses - August 18, 2018

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See Also: Understanding Death is Not Like a Disney Movie

and The Aftermath

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time 

Camp: A Season in Statuses

DC attended his summer camp on Thursdays and Fridays this season. It has been a long time since he was still in school and able to attend 5 days a week, all summer long. I am glad that he is still allowed to attend a few days at least, now that he is "working" (in a year round Group Supported Employment day program).

He had his "First Day Jitters" or "Arrival Anxiety" but spotted his friend Ron, so his arrival went much more smoothly than it usually does...

So here is DC's  camping season documented in Face Book Statuses:

First Day - Facebook Status

DC's first day of camp this season.....
Camp, Old Friends and a Little Bit of Anxiety

                                       

Hat Day - Facebook Status

HAT DAY! DC’s favorite day at camp - always. This year’s choice; Davy Crockett. Now don’t let him fool you. He has absolutely no interest in Davy Crockett, his one and only reason for choosing this hat was because it, in his mind is like having a ponytail. This guy wants nothing more than to have long hair (unfortunately, his hair grows out instead of down). 
As for me, the Davy Crockett song has been playing in my head all day. 
Just follow the bouncing ball and E V E R Y BODY SING .... 🎵 Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee.... 🎶

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Disney Day - Facebook Status

Disney day at camp. I offered to cut his Woody costume (he hasn’t worn it in years) so he could just wear the top but he said no. I was not sure that he really understood what I meant. I think he thought he’d still have to wear the whole costume. A lot of the time he doesn’t understand until he sees it, but I didn’t want to cut it and then find out he still did not want to wear it.... so here we have a “makeshift” version of Woody. Now we’ll have to come up with something different for Wild West Day.  He was happy with it, so that’s all that matters. #HappyDisneyDay#AllDisneyAllOfTheTime

Until "Cinderella" showed up and then he was angry that he was not "Prince Charming".

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Birthday Party Day - Facebook Status

No, It’s NOT his birthday. It is Birthday Party Day at Camp which provides an opportunity for him to wear his birthday shirt a second time this year. 
Knowing that he just might take full advantage of everyone thinking it is his birthday, I told him that if anyone asked, he needs to tell them that it is not his birthday.
DC: Okay Mom
We practiced (yes, it would have been easier just not to wear the shirt but he’d been talking about it all week) and practiced. He had it.
This morning I asked: “DC is it your birthday?”
DC: (complete with smirk) YES!
#HappyUnBirthday #NoGiftsPlease

(I was told that all of the practice did NOT stick)

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Imaginary ? Medals - Facebook Status

It was Olympics day at camp (his Special Olympics Running shirt came in handy). When he called from the car he screeched (happily) that he won gold medals. I haven’t gotten anymore information than that (but any time he participates in any kind of sport, he insists that he won - so there’s that). I don’t know what he “won” at and he had no medals when he got home, but he was happy about winning those invisible medals. 
#MysteryGames #Winning

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#MyHatHasBells - Facebook Status

Not that there is ever a wrong day to wear Christmas gear in DC-land, but it is Christmas Week at the Camp After Program. Wearing a holiday shirt and hat all day before After Camp begins..... Not a problem. 
#MyHatHasBells #ChristmasInJuly 
#SummerCamp

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Christmas in July - Facebook Status

Ho Ho Ho! I wonder what’s for dinner?#ChristmasInJuly #Camp

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Text from Camp - Not a Status

There was a bit of "warm snow" (goooood one - I am going to have to remember that one) to make their celebration complete.
Still a "Little Bit" of a distraction for DC

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Carnival Day - Facebook Status

Yeah, okay... it’s a stretch (although I do crack myself up). It’s Carnival Day at Camp. He MUST have wanted to be “in theme” because he agreed to wear white! DC does not like to wear white (unless it’s a dress shirt with a tie) or gray, because apparently gray is just dark white.
#SummerCamp #CarnivalDay #MomIsNotVeryFunny

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No, Not Woody - Facebook Status

Wild West Day at Camp. And make no mistake, this is Wild West Day “Not Disney Woody” (DC-speak).
#Camp #WildWestDay

(We found a different hat in his ever-growing hat collection - Phew!)

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King of the Storm - Facebook Status

There was quite a lot of thunder and rain while DC was at “After Camp” last night. 
Ms. “Giselle” made him King because Kings are not afraid of storms (it didn’t stop him from running to the windows all night). Apparently it made a bit of an impression on him because this morning he declared himself “King of the Storm” and told me how brave he was by showing me his muscles. 😃
King of the Storm ...... I’m going to have to remember that.
I also hear that there was a rainbow and some singing of Somewhere Over The Rainbow after the storm. (Photo stolen from camp) #AllOzAllOfTheTime too . #camp #KingOfTheStorm

Note: The After Camp Program - DC has attended this program for many years. It is a long day 9-3 at camp and then an invited few (those who can handle being at camp for such a long stretch of time) stay for activities and dinner until 8, once or twice a week.

DC was not going to attend the After-Camp program this year because the After-Camp Director, who DC just loved, retired. But then.... we learned that "Ms. Giselle" (DC gives everyone a Disney Character or Princess name - in this case, Amy Adams from Enchanted) who was his group leader for many years when he attended daily and who he ADORES would be taking the position.

Dinner: We all know that DC has a limited menu of items that he will eat. The old director, by some miracle could get him to eat (or at least try) ANYTHING! It was impressive.

Ms. Giselle, not only came up with "Warm Snow" and "King of the Storm" but also incorporated the "No Thank You Bite" - so the tradition of DC eating or at least trying new foods lived on at After-Camp.



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Down to the Wire - Facebook Status

We’re down to the wire.... The last two days of camp. Today; ‘HEARTS and CRAPS’
show.  #ArtsAndCrafts

(DC has never been a big fan of Arts and Crafts so I was curious to see if he had anything at all in the show. I asked him to take a picture. I asked him if he made anything for the show and he gave me a different answer each time - A Heart, a Hat and one other that I do not remember. I do not know if any of his answers were the truth and I did not get a picture)

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Last Day of Camp - Facebook Status 

Last day of Camp. Happy Camper not because Camp is going to be over, but because he thinks - no matter how much I try to explain it it him - that this means that the air conditioners, ‘hair - dish - ons’ in DC-speak, will be coming out. 
. ... No, Nope, Not Even Close..
#IsItHotInHereOrIsItJustMe

The last day of camp is also Camper Awards Day:

I'll have to agree with this one....

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This blog is used for shorter posts, off topic posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time